Tube cleaner



June 30, 1936. W. s. ELLioTT TUBE CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 19, 1932 um ww QN Q M @N www@ V wm @N R, a, W NN fw Nm. *RH @hill b EN E M QMWM w m., N QN NM.. QNNNSQNNN n w-` \1 r `M l l-- film. NN WN www ,lllwm n -1-..- iwf# ITM- FL b" Q w QN IKNQN b BN N NNN f June 36, i936. w. s. ELLIOTT TUBE CLEANER Filed Dec. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2V v v INVENTOR W. .5. w 57a, S54@ /Zfmu MIL@ Patented June 30, 1936 ATENT GFFICE TUBE CLEANER William S. Elliott, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Elliott Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 19, 1932, Serial No. 647,939

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tube cleaners, and more particularly to tube cleaners of the general type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 625,267, led July 28, 1932, and is designed to 5 provide an improved construction of such general type, as well as certain improvement features of general application.

The type of construction disclosed in said ,application embodies a. plurality ofsets of working l()v elements carried by a head, theworking elements of one set being movable outwardly with respect to the head about axes extending at an angle to the general plane or direction of movement of respective Working elements of another set. More specifically, the working elements of one set, preferably the forward set, considering the normal direction of advance of the cleaning head, swing about axes transverse to the tube and head, while the working elements of another set, preferablyrdisposed rearwardly of the rst mentioned set, move generally outwardly relatively to the head in directions respectively at an angleto the axes about which the elements of the first men.- tioned set swing. Y

In the use of tube cleaners of the character in question the cleaning head is simultaneously advanced and rotated through an encrusted tube, the forward working elements serving somewhat in the nature of hammers to'loosen heavy scale 30' deposits,rand the following working elements removing any thinner scale which may remain after the forward elements have passed, and also acting to polish the inner surface of the tube. Cleaning heads of standardV sizes are made and adapted to be used for cleaning tubes of various internal diameters ranging, for example, from one and one--hali` inches to twelve inches or over, and hence the head and associated working elements must be compact and also of such construction that considerable freedom of movement of the elements of the head is possible toenable the elements to swing or move outwardly to effect scale removal or inwardly to the extent necessary to permit insertion of the head into a heavily 45 encrusted tube.

I nd it advantageous to mount the following or polishing elements, as well as the forward or cleaning elements, for pivotal movement. In` one form the working elements of one set are mounted to swing about axes disposed generally at an angle to the axes about which the working elements of another set are mounted toV swing. Preferablythe elements of the forward set are mounted toswing about axes generally transverse to the 55 head, rwhile following elements are mounted to swing about axes extending longitudinally of the head and preferably generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the head.

Other details, objects and advantages of the inventionV will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal crosssectiona1 view through a cleaning head, taken on the line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a. rear View of the cleaning head with thethreaded sleeve removed;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are transverse cross-sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines III-III, IV-IV and V--V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken on` the line VI-VI ofFi'gure 2; and

Figure 'l is a fragmentary cross-sectional View similar to Figure 6 showing a modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is provided a cleaner head designated generally by reference numeral 2 having a central longitudinally extending stem 3 with which is preferably integrally connected at the forward end of the head (the right-hand end viewing Figure 1) a spider 4. The spider 4 has a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 5 which are shown as being threein number and equidistantly spacedaround the spider, each of such slots being adapted to receive an armI which may be mounted for swinging movement.

Each arm 6 has a central longitudinal bore 1 adapted to receive a stem 8 lhaving an enlarged head 9. Mounted on the stem 8 is a series of alternately disposed toothed cutting and hammering disks I and washers II. Each arm 6 has a through bore I2 and each stem 8 has a notch I3 shown as being approximately semi-circular in cross-section and which is adapted, when the parts are assembled as shown in Figure 1, to be aligned Ywith the bore I2 in the corresponding arm 6.

Each arm and its associated mechanism are adapted to be pivotally connected with the spider 4 by a pivot pin I4 adapted to be inserted longitudinally into a bore I in the spider and to pass through the bore l2 in the arm 6 and the notch I3 in the stem 8. Each working element comprising an arm 6, a stem 8, disks I0 and washers II is thus mounted for swinging movement about the axis of one of the pins I4. 'Ihe extent of swinging movement of each working 24 against rotation within the arms20.

within the opening 22. 40

element is limited in the inward direction by a surface I6 cooperating with the spider and in the outward direction by a surface I1, likewise cooperating with the spider.

The cleaner head 2 also carries, rearwardly of the working elements above described, at least one other series of working elements, only one such series of elements being shown in the drawings for the sake of simplicity. There are provided a plurality of mounting members designated generally by reference numeral I8, each of which comprises a body i9 having integrally connected therewith generally parallel outwardly extending arms 2li. Each mounting member I8 also is provided with axially aligned longitudinally extending pivot pins or trunnions 2| for the purpose of enabling the mounting member to be mounted for bodily pivotal movement with respect to the head 2, as will presently be described. Y

The arms 23 are provided with transverse openings 22 and 23, respectively, of equal circular cross-section, the opening 22 extending only part way through its arm, whereas the opening 23 extends completely through its arm. Adapted to be supported by the arms 23 is a pin 24 which may be inserted through the opening 23 and snugly held within the openings 22 and 23, as shown in Figure. 6. Rotatably mounted on the pin 20 in alternate relationship are cleaning and polishing disks 25 and 23 and washers 2l. The disks 25 are preferably tapered from front to rear of the cleaner head, and the disks 26, which lie rearwardly of the disks 25, are preferably of uniform diameter.

In assembling the working elements each pin 24 is inserted through the opening 23 and then through the desired cleaning and polishing disks and washers and its forward end is then seated The rear end of each pin 24 has a squared extremity 23. Adapted to be positioned over each rear pivot pin or trunnion 2l and the, squared extremity 28 ofthe corresponding pin 24 is an end piece 29. Such end piece has a circular hole for receiving the trunnion 2i and a square hole for receiving the pin extremity 23. Thus when the end piece 29 is in place it prevents endwise removal 0f the pin 24 through the opening 23, and also holds the p-in The front trunnion 2| of each mounting member I3 is journalled within a longitudinal bore 30 in the spider 4. The respective rear trunnions 2l are journalled within bores 3I in a cap 32 adapted to be positioned over a reduced extremity 33 of the head 2 and against a shoulder 34. The parts are so proportioned and positioned that when the cap 32 is put in place over the reduced extremity 33 of the head 2 and against the shoulder 34 it not only serves to rotatably carry the respective rear trunnions 2l, but also prevents endwise removal of the end pieces 29, thus insuring maintenance of the wo-rking element assembly.

The reduced extremity 33 of the head carries a threaded hub 35 over which an internally threaded sleeve 33 is adapted to be screwed so as to abut against the outer surface. of the cap 32 and hold the'same iirmly in place against the shoulder 34. The sleeve 33 also transmits the power from the driving mechanism to the cleaner head to advance and rotate the same through a tube. The threads on the hub 35 and the sleeve 36 are so out that rotation of the sleeve and head in the normal direction will tend to tighten the connection.

Referring again to the pins I4 for rotatably holding the forward working elements in place with respect to the spider 4, means are provided for preventing endwise removal of such pins from their respective bores I5 in the spider. Such means preferably comprise pins inserted into longitudinal bores in the spider intersecting the bores I5, and thus, intersecting a plane of the axis of and abutting the pins I4, such last mentioned pins lying behind respective pins I4 to prevent removal thereof. In a present preferred embodiment the pins referred to for preventing removal of the pins I4 are the respective front pivot pins or trunnions 2I of the mounting members I8. The bores 33 in the spider 4 are located so as to intersect the respective bores I5, thereby enabling the front trunnions 2I to lie directly behind the respective pins I4 to prevent their removal (see Figure i4).

Pins other than the forward pivot pins 2| may be used to prevent removal of the pins I4, and they may, if desired, also be positioned within the bores 33 of the spider. A modification is shown in Figure 7 in which a separate pin 3'I is introduced into the bore 33 so as to intersect the bore l5 and lie behind and prevent removal of the pin i4, the front pivot pin or trunnon 2I of the mounting member I8 being shortened so as to substantially abut against and prevent removal of the pin 3l.

In operation the cleaner head is advanced and rotated within a tube being cleaned, the rotation causing outward movement of the respective working elements by centrifugal force. The outward movement of the forward working elements is limited by the surfaces I'I, asV above explained,v

and the outward movement of the following working elements is limited by abutment of surfaces 33 on the respective mounting members I8 against the stem 3. The parts are so proportioned and positioned that both the inward and outward limits of movement of all of the working elements are substantially the same. This insures polishing of the interior surface of the tube by the rear-r ward working elements to the full extent to which such surface has been subjected to cleaning action by the forward Working elements.

By reason of the provision of a rigid head carrying freely radially outwardly swingablecleaning elements and cleaning elements freely outwardly movable as a whole a positive cooperation is obtained between the respective cleaning elements which very effectively'accomplishes the desired purpose. The rst mentioned cleaning elements pass through the tube and break oif by hammerlike blows the heavy deposits or encrustations, and the second mentioned cleaning elements remove the residue and polish the tube wall. As all of the cleaning elements are mounted in a rigid head, they positively cooperate in controlled relationship to clean the tube, the two sets of cleaning elements following along directly behind one another, thus insuring effective operation of both, which would not be insured with a flexible head.

Further, the provision of the rearward set of bodily outwardly swingable cleaning elements in combination with the forward set of radially outwardly swingable cleaning elements provides for a much wider range of use than with the rearward setV of cleaning elements simply mounted in slots in the head. The bodily outwardly swingable rearward elements fly out to positions outside the body of the head so that a construction as herein described and claimed of a given size can be used for cleaning tubes of a wide variety of sizes. Whereas other heads are adapted for cleaning tubes whose sizes do not diifer over 1A, the pres- 75 ent head has a range at least three times as great. For example, the same head as is used for cleaning a 3" tube may also be used for cleaning a 3% tube.

The forward set of cleaning elements swing on transversely extending pivots in the rigid frame and strike heavier, harder blows than the succeeding set which swing on pivots extending longitudinally of said frame, both because the front elements are heavier and also because their pivots extend transversely. Another peculiar and unexpected advantage of this combination of cleaner elements with rigid head has been found in practice to be that when the proper speed of rotation is imparted, the centrifugal force exerted on the rear set of outwardly swinging cleaning elements tends to center the head within the tube.

Hence, the tendency of the front swinging ele-Y ments to move the head sidewise as they strike scale projections or knobs located eccentrically, is resisted and at least in part corrected by the rear centrifugal moving cleaner elements. Gravity, of course, tends to move the head downward within the tube when in use and this tendency is also resisted by these rear vibrating arms. Eccentric positions of the cleaner head as a whole are thus resisted by the rear elements which, while they strike weaker blows than the front set of arms, yet serve to polish the tube and centralize the head.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A generally axially elongated rotary tube cleaner head comprising a body having a transverse opening therein, a cleaning element carried by said body, pivot means for said cleaning element in said opening, said body having a generally longitudinally extending opening intersecting said rst mentioned opening, a second cleaning element carried by said body, and means in said generally longitudinally extending opening maintained in place therein by said second cleaning element for maintaining said pivot means in place in said transverse opening.

2. A generally axially elongated rotary tube cleaner head comprising a body having a. transverse opening therein, a cleaning element pivoted to said body for swinging movement in a plane generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the head, pivot means in said'transverse opening for effecting the pivotal connection of said cleaning element to said body, said body having a generally longitudinally extending opening intersecting said transverse opening, a second cleaning element pivotally carried by said body and with its pivot extending within said generally longitudinally extending opening and maintaining said pivot means in place in said transverse opening.

3. A generally axially elongated rotary tube cleaner head comprising a body having a transverse opening therein, cleaning means pivoted to said body for swinging movement in a plane generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the head, said cleaning means comprising a cleaning element assembly and a mounting member therefor, pivot means in said transverse opening eiecting the p-ivotal connection of said cleaning means to said body and maintaining said cleaning element assembly in place in said mounting member, said body having a generally longitudinally extending opening intersecting said transverse opening, second cleaning means carried by said body, and means in said generally longitudinally extending opening maintained in place therein by said second cleaning means for maintaining said pivot means in place in said transverse opening.

4. A rotary tube cleaner head having a rigid frame structure, a forward set of cleaner elements swinging in said head on transversely extending pivots, anda rearward set `of cleaner elements swinging on pivots extending longitudinally of said frame and located in the rear of the pivots for the front cleaning elements, at least a part of the longitudinal pivot means of the rear set intersecting a plane of the axis of and abutting the transverse pivot means of the front set, and common locking devices therefor.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT. 

